INGLEWOOD, Calif — Believe it or not, the Los Angeles Chargers appear to be in the driver’s seat for the AFC West title. They beat the defending division and AFC champs Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday on the road and stunned the previously unbeaten Las Vegas Raiders, 28-14 on Monday night at SoFi Stadium.
It could happen, as the Chargers (3-1) took a 21-0 halftime lead and held off the Raiders’ (3-1) second-half charge.
The Chargers almost learned a lesson the hard way, though: Never depend on solely on your defense, no matter how good they’re playing, and never underestimate the Raiders in the second half.
The Raiders scored 14 points in the third quarter and drove into Chargers territory before missing a 52-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. But that’s when the Chargers showed potential championship mettle.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who arguably has worked his way into the MVP conversation, drove his team 58 yards on 10 plays for what would be the game clinching touchdown, an 11-yard touchdown run by Austin Ekeler with 5:20 left. Herbert finished 25-of-38 for 222 yards and three first-half touchdown passes.
The Chargers dominated the first half on defense, allowing the Raiders only 51 yards of offense. But you had to know they’d come roaring back. That’s what the Raiders do. They were down to Baltimore and Miami 14-0 and came back to win both games.
Derek Carr had a chance with 3:14 remaining, which was aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Joey Bosa. But then up stepped S Derwin James Jr. who snagged an interception and sealed another big win for the Chargers.
Key play of the game: The Chargers were faced with fourth-and-two at the 50 with 9:24 left in the game holding on to a seven-point lead. They decided to go for it. Herbert launched a 13-year old pass to Jared Cook, who jumped over former Charger Denzel Perryman to haul in the pass. Cook’s play eventually led to Ekeler’s game-sealing touchdown and stopped the Raiders’ comeback attempt.
Key stats: The Raiders tried to limit Keenan Allen and Mike Williams but the Chargers tight ends stepped up in their place. Cook had six receptions for 70 yards and a first-half touchdown, Donald Parham Jr. had the Chargers’ first score of the game and Stephen Anderson had one big-time reception for 34 yards that helped set up another first-half score.
